Fingernail drier



April 24, 1945.

J. R. CORBETT FINGERNAIL DRIER Filed Dec. 16, 1945 k W WW INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 to NuTone,, Incorp'orated; New York, N; Y., a corporation ofNew-York Application December 16, 1948 Serial- No. 514,445

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for drying:

the polish orenamel, placedon finger nails.

The principal objective has been to provide a simple and inexpensive device into which a lady may insert the tips of her fingers after the polish has been applied in order that the polish will be dried more quickly than if exposed to air alone. Ordinary finger nail polish or lacquer requires ten to fifteen minutes of exposure to the air to set to a reasonably hard film. During this time the hands may not be used otherwise the unset coating will be marred or damaged.

In the apparatus of the present invention drying time is accelerated by employing a small electric lamp, preferably of the carbon filament type, to supply infrared radiation through which the finger nails are exposed to a gentle heat.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide a simple and inexpensive device embodying a rounded hand rest which, grasped by the fingers, disposes the finger nails in a comfortable position, yet subject to direct impingement by the radiation from the bulb. In the {preferred embodiments of the invention the structure comprises a housing having a lamp bulb mounted Within it to provide a suitable source of infrared radiation. The housing has a hand rest over which the palm of a hand may be placed so that the fingers, generally arranged against the underneath portion of the hand rest inside the housing, are accessible directly to radiation from the bulb. The outer walls of the housing are spaced from the perimeter of the hand rest a distance corresponding roughly to the thickness of the fingers so that, in effect, the fingers close the opening of the housing and it thereby constitutes a heating chamber.

A typical apparatus embodying these features is disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partially in section showing the hand rest grasped by the hand of a person, with the fingers arranged in positionfor enamel on the nails to be dried.

Figure 3 is a plan view further illustrating the construction of the hand rest.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The device shown in -the drawing comprises a housing indicated generally at I, mounted on a base 2, and having an aperture 3 at its upper end through which the fingers are disposed around a hand rest 4. The housing is of a rounded contour generally in order that it may be-ofplease ing, appearance suitableto; beplaced upon a boudoirtable. light bulb socket or receptacle 5 is mounted upon an angle bracket 6 and a bulb l, fastened to the base 2, is received within the socket. The socket preferably is placed in such position that the bulb is located substantially centrally upon the base. One ofthe socket terminals is connected through a wire 8 with one terminal of a snap switch 9 and one terminal of an electric cord I0 is taken to the other terminal of the switch while the other wire of the cord is taken to the other terminal of the socket. This enables the bulb to be turned on or 01f when the cord has been plugged into a receptacle.

The walls of the housing 1 preferably extend upwardly from the base in a generally vertical direction and also curve inwardly at the top somewhat in the form of a rounded mound or dome which has the finger-receiving aperture 3 at its apex. The hand rest 4 extends from the chamber wall into this aperture. As will be noted, in the drawing, the finger opening 3 between the outer wall of the housing and the outer perimeter of the hand rest is the shape of a U whereby the fingers radiating from the palm may be disposed conveniently and comfortably around the hand rest, then cupped inwardly toward the underside of it. It will also be noted that the neck of the hand rest, designated [2, is somewhat narrower than its central portion l3, thereby providing clearance at the places marked M to pro vide for passage of the thumbs. Without this arrangement the thumbs, depending upon the shape and size of the hand of the user, might have to be held in a strained position in order that they too would be exposed directly to the radiation from the bulb. Thus, asshown best in Figure 2, the nails on the fingers which grasp the underneath side of the hand rest are disposed adjacent to and generally in line with the bulb while the thumb of either hand passes through the respective clearance recesses at the neck of the hand rest to assume a similar position.

The housing, including the hand rest, may be an integral moulded structure either of plastic or mouldable materials, plaster cast, sheet metal or other suitable materials. It is preferable that the interior of the housing be of a white or suitable refiective surface in order that the benefits of reflected as Well as direct radiation may be utilized.

As; shown in Figures 3. and; 4- a Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A finger nail drier comprising a mound-like housing having an electric lamp providing a source of heat at the base thereof, the said housing having a hand rest spaced from said electric lamp and adapted to support the palm of a hand, and said housing having an opening substantially surrounding said hand rest through which the fingers of the hand may pass toward the underside of said hand rest, whereby the nails on the fingers are exposed to heat radiated from said lamp.

2. A finger nail drier comprising a globular housing having a U-shaped opening in the upper portion thereof circumscribing and delineating a hand rest, an electric lamp disposed within said housing in spaced relationship to said hand rest, the hand rest being adapted to support the palm of a hand while the fingers pass through said opening into said housing thereby exposing the nails thereof to said rays from said lamp,

3. A finger nail drier comprising a globular housing having a U-shaped opening in the upper portion thereof circumscribing and delineating a hand rest, an electric lamp disposed within said housing in spaced relationship to said hand rest, the hand rest being adapted to support the palm of a hand while the fingers pass through said opening into said housing thereby exposing the nails thereof to said rays from said lamp, the said opening being of such width that it is substantially closed when the fingers extend through it.

4. A finger nail drier comprising a globular housing having a base, an electric lamp supported on said base, the said housing having a U-shaped opening delineating a hand rest, the said opening being of such width that it is substantially closed when the palm of a hand is supported on said hand rest and the fingers pass through the opening in cupped position over said hand rest, and the said hand rest being so located relative to the lamp that heat rays are directed upon the finger nails when the hand is supported on the hand rest.

JOSEPH RALPH CORBETT. 

